Things To Do In Malaga

Wonderful Malaga is situated on the Andalusian coast of Costa del Sol and boasts some of the most meaningful cultural facilities and heritage sites in Europe. The sights of Malaga vary from picturesque beaches to age-old castle constructions, fashionable harbors, and excellent restaurants. Malaga is the motherland of Pablo Picasso and Antonio Banderas (what a pair), and it’s full of museums, sun, and flowers. So, if that’s got you tempted, here’s our list of top activities to do when you visit.

Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, and in the Palace of Condes de Buenavista there is a museum dedicated to him. The building itself has an incredible combination of styles: fundamentally Renaissance, but decorated with Mauritanian elements and renovated in the Contemporary style. Inside you can see more than 200 pictures, early academic etudes of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. When you’re there make sure you take a look inside the cellar, where you can see Phoenician, Roman, and Moorish architectural remains. 

With massive walls that can be seen from almost any point in the city, La Alcazaba is a Mauritanian fortress-palace and an amazing monument of the Islamic epoch. It was built in the 11th Century, fortified and expanded during the 500 years that followed, and to date is the best-preserved alcazaba in Spain. On the hill there are 2 rows of walls, protecting the outer and inner citadel, and the outer citadel contains gorgeous palace gardens with incredible fountains, and gates that the Arabs built from old Roman columns which remained. Within the second row of walls there is a palace and majestic houses, organised around quiet gardens and rectangular patios.

Playa de la Malagueta is the main city beach; it’s gorgeously wide and sandy and very close to the city, and is the place where the locals come to relax. Chilling out  on the beach is one of the best ways to spend an afternoon (or a day) in Malaga. You can rent a lounge chair or just throw down a towel, read or build sandcastles, and enjoy spending some time by (or in!) the sea.

Building the city’s cathedral took more than 150-years, which is why it is a peculiar mix of Renaissance and Baroque styles - its construction took place across both these stylised times. For example, its façade was one of the last details that was finished and is truly grandiose, with arches, columns, pilasters, and stone reliefs representing patron saints. The 84m-high northern tower of the cathedral ranked second highest in Andalusia after La Giralda in Seville, a southern tower was originally due to be built as well, but instead the funding was sent to help America in its battle for independence from Britain. You can read about it on the informational tablets in the cathedral, where the tower was originally supposed to be.

If you want the full experience, why not book our small group guided tour of Malaga which includes the Picasso Museum, La Alcazaba, and the Cathedral, plus some tasty tapas bites when your appetite is building.

The wonderful Nerja caves are actually a huge chain of caves, in total almost 5km long. Within the caves is the largest stalagmite in the world – a 32m column with a base that’s 13m x 7m (stalagmite is the one which grows upwards, stalactite is the one which grows down from the ceiling!). This is the perfect place for visiting on rare rainy days or when you need to get out of the sun for a bit. The Spanish Nerja caves are well-maintained, safe, entertaining, and suitable for family visits.

For a tour of the caves and of the gorgeous nearby town of Frigiliana, why not book a full day tour with Klook.

The botanic gardens of Malaga occupy more than 25,000m2 and were built in 1850 by Jorge Loring Oyarzábal and Amalia Heredia Livermore. They are situated outside the city centre, and the parks boast more than 2,000 plant species from Europe, America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, as well as a large variety of bird species that make their home there. The botanic gardens are a combination of traditional European gardens and more tropical counterparts, so the sheer variety of plants you’ll be able to see here are definitely interesting enough for any budding (geddit) horticulturist.

In Costa del Sol you can barely walk a few kilometers without bumping into a first-class golf course. Just 10km from the city, and set right on the coast line, is Parador de Malaga; an impressive 18-hole golf course. It is situated in an awesome landscape of dunes, palm trees, and eucalyptus, and is one of the oldest golf courses in the country, dating back to the 1920s.

If you want to try a local dish (and we definitely recommend you do), then you have to go for espeto (grilled sardines) in the local chiringuito (beach bar). The classical way of cooking espeto is to dig a hole in the sand, light a fire and then grill the sardines on charcoals. There is even a statue ‘Espetero’, cooking sardines in Malaga’s Paseo Maritimo de Antonio Machado.

The mountain town of Mijas is located just 30 mins away from Malaga. This fascinating pueblo in the Sierra de Mijas mountain range offers the break that everyone needs after the hustle and bustle of Costa del Sol. Wander along cobbled streets surrounded by pure white houses, and enjoy the breathtaking urban landscape view from the Muralla de Mijas garden, where an ancient Arab fortress used to be long ago. Be sure to check out the gifts and souvenirs in boutiques that are scattered around the Mijas; handmade ceramics and beautiful leather products that are incredibly unique.

Just a short way from La Alcazaba via a walled corridor which connects the two, is the Castle of Gibralfaro, which was built in the 14th Century. It’s not only a great stopover at sunset due to the high walls and amazing views over Malaga, but the perfect place for a Sunday afternoon stroll too, especially as entry is free after 2 p.m. Finally, don’t miss the Roman Theatre, built by Emperor Augustus and re-opened following refurbishments in 1951. Entry is free and there are occasionally open-air performances shown here too, which will really round-off your cultural experience in Malaga.

Malaga is one of the most beautiful and historic towns in Spain, and we hope our suggestions for things to do in Malaga will help you plan your trip to this wonderful and bustling town on the Costa del Sol.

Looking for more to do in the area? Make sure you check out the best activities with Klook and be guaranteed of the best prices & a super convenient booking process.